ATHENS: Ten mariners rescued after Houthi militants sank a Greek ship final week have arrived in Saudi Arabia, maritime safety sources mentioned on Monday (Jul 14), after rescuers ended their search for the remaining crew.
The rescue mission started on Wednesday when the Iran-aligned group sank the Liberia-flagged Eternity C cargo ship, with 22 crew and three armed guards on board, after attacking the vessel with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades over two consecutive days.
Eight crew members and two safety guards had been rescued. All of the crew had been Filipino, aside from one Russian.
On Sunday, maritime threat administration agency Diaplous and British safety agency Ambrey mentioned in a joint assertion that the vessel’s proprietor had determined to finish the privately run seek for the remaining crew.
“The choice to finish the search has been taken by the vessel’s proprietor reluctantly, but it surely believes that, in all of the circumstances, the precedence should now be to get the ten souls safely recovered alive ashore,” they mentioned.
The ship carrying the rescued crew has arrived in Jizan, a Diaplous official mentioned.
The remaining 15 individuals who had been on board are thought of lacking, in keeping with the vessel’s Greece-based supervisor, Cosmoship. 5 of them are believed to have died earlier than the vessel sank, in keeping with maritime safety sources.
The Houthis mentioned final week that they picked up some of the crew after the vessel went down. Cosmoship mentioned that it was attempting to confirm the declare.
Earlier than attacking Eternity C the Houthis had sunk one other Greek ship, the Magic Seas. Its crew had been rescued by a passing ship.
The EU’s naval mission Aspides, which protects transport within the Purple Sea, has mentioned that it had no naval belongings within the space on the time of the assaults. No worldwide naval drive was current, in keeping with maritime safety sources.
The Houthis have attacked greater than 100 ships since November 2023 in what they are saying is an act of solidarity with the Palestinians over the Gaza battle.
